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Glite Dictionary
leprosy bacillus

leprosy bacillus

7.5
A germ that causes the disease leprosy
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛprəsi bəˈsɪləs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bacilo de la lepra
  • Discovery of the leprosy bacillus was a major breakthrough in medical science.

Examples

  • The spread of the leprosy bacillus can be controlled with early detection and treatment.

  • Scientists are researching new drugs to combat the leprosy bacillus.

  • The leprosy bacillus is responsible for the disease.

  • Scientists study the leprosy bacillus to find better treatments.

  • The discovery of the leprosy bacillus changed the approach to treating leprosy.

  • Researchers are developing vaccines to prevent the spread of the leprosy bacillus.

  • Understanding how the leprosy bacillus infects nerve cells is critical for finding a cure.

Synonyms

Mycobacterium leprae
vsleprosy bacillus
  • Specialized
8.3

A type of bacteria that causes leprosy, a long illness of the skin and nerves

is the same bacterium but uses a formal scientific name

Surface Forms

leprosy bacillus singular
leprosy bacilli plural

Morphology

leprosy + bacillus

This is a straightforward noun-noun combination where 'bacillus' (a bacterium) modified by 'leprosy' (the disease) yields 'the bacterium associated with leprosy.' The meaning is fully compositional and follows common cross-linguistic patterns for naming pathogens, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

The name leprosy bacillus combines leprosy, from an old word for 'scaly' skin, and bacillus, a word for a 'little rod'. It gives a simple image: a tiny rod-shaped germ that causes leprosy, so the name refers to the bacterium that makes the disease.